Hebrew VowelsHebrew Vowels

VowelsVowels

quamatsquamatsa a as in fas in faathertheraa--class class

hireqhireq--yodyodii as in machas in machiine ne

ii--classclass

TsereTsereee as in thas in theey y

ii--class class

holamholamoo as in ras in roow w

uu--class class

oror

shurukshurukoooo as in cas in cooool l

uu--class class

Notice that two of the long vowels, Notice that two of the long vowels,

andand

are consonants used as vowels. are consonants used as vowels.

These are known asThese are known as matresmatres lectionislectionis

(mothers of reading) (mothers of reading)

VowelsVowels

patahpatahaa as in fas in faather ther

aa--class class

hireqhireqii as in bas in biit t

ii--class class

segolsegolee as in bas in beed d

ii--class class

qubbutsqubbutsuu as in pas in puut t

uu--class class

qamatsqamats hatufhatuf**oo as in has in hoold ld

uu--class class

* unaccented, closed syllable

The qamats…

have the same symbol: have the same symbol:

and the qamats hatuf…

but two different sounds.but two different sounds.

ShevaSheva

ShevaSheva may be silent or vocalmay be silent or vocal

The silent sheva occurs after a closed syllable

The vocal sheva is pronounced as a very short e (as in severe)

A vocal sheva is used after a consonant, except gutterals, in which case a composite shevais used.

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Words that end in a consonant do not have a sheva, except

{ \ and t5

Composite shevas

Composite shevas

HatafHataf patahpatahaa as in as in aalonglong

Composite shevas

HatafHataf segolsegolee as in as in eeffectffect

Composite shevas

HatafHataf qamatsqamatsoo as in as in oonlynly